Bed base

ABSTRACT

A bed base comprises a rectangular support having side members connected at corners by a corner connector assembly including a locator element in a leg of a plate member that interacts with a locator element in a side member. A cross-rail assembly includes an elongated bar member that fits in notches in upper edge sections of opposed side members and a pair of leg members near opposed ends the elongated bar member pass through the notches upon attaching the cross-rail assembly to the rectangular support.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents,hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application areincorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application.

DEFINITIONS

The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” andother forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and beopen ended in that an item or items following any one of these words isnot meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant tobe limited to only the listed item or items.

The word “rectangular” includes square.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,865,758; 6,925,666; and 7,155,762 disclose bed basesmade from sheet metal and include side members connected at corners. Oneor more cross-rails span the width of the bed base, adding rigidity andsupport for a box spring and mattress. It is desirable to simplify theconstruction and assembly of the components of the bed base and reducethe cost of manufacture.

My bed base has one or more of the features depicted in the embodimentdiscussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOMEILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define my bed base,distinguishing it from the prior art; however, without limiting thescope of my bed base as expressed by these claims, in general terms, oneor more, but not necessarily all, of its features are:

One, my bed base employs a unique corner connector assembly to attachtogether adjacent side members of my bed base. This corner connectorassembly has a pair of plate members and means for attaching the platemembers together. The plate members are formed by a stamping a sheetsteel plug. The attaching means may be a post element, for example, anelongated rod that extends between upper and lower aligned platemembers. The post element may have an enlarged head at one end and athreaded portion at an opposed end. The lower plate member may include athreaded receptacle that receives the threaded end of the elongated rod.In one embodiment, the upper and lower plate members are essentiallyidentical, except for the threaded receptacle.

Two, each plate member may include a pair of arms at a right angle. Thepair of arms may have outer wall elements along outer edges of each armthat are substantially at a right angle to each other and to the arm towhich they are attached and inner wall elements along inner edges ofeach arm that are substantially at a right angle to each other and tothe arm to which they are attached. These inner and outer wall elementsform a right angle channel in the plate member. A locator element ineach arm of the plate member is adapted to engage and interlock with alocator element in each side member end of adjacent side members. Atleast some of the locator elements may comprise holes, and at least someof the locator elements may comprise projections that fit snugly withinthe holes.

Three, the post element may extend between and fasten together the upperand lower plate members and the locator elements on the plate membersare interactive with the locator elements on side members. These locatorelements engage and interlock upon insertion of the planar supportmembers of the side members into the right angle channel of the upperplate member and insertion of the lower planar support member into theright angle channel of the lower plate member. For example, the locatorelements on the plate members may be hollow cylindrical projectionsformed by stamping. There is a pair of such cylindrical projections ineach individual plate member, one received in a circular holefunctioning as a locator element in each adjacent planar support member.The circular hole has a diameter only slightly greater than the diameterof the cylindrical locator element inserted therein during assembly ofadjacent side members. Such interactive locator elements lock togetherthe adjacent side members so they do not separate.

Four, in one embodiment my bed base is a combination of a uniquecross-rail assembly and a substantially rectangular mattress supportincluding at least one pair of opposed, substantially parallel sidemembers separated by a predetermined distance. Each side member may haveat least one notch in an upper edge section thereof, with the notches inthe opposed side members being aligned. The leg members at or near theends of the bar member are separated by substantially the predetermineddistance between the side members so that each leg member isindividually received within a notch. In other words, the leg members ator near the ends of the bar member are separated by a distancesubstantially equal to the predetermined distance between the opposedside members. The cross-rail assembly includes an elongated bar memberthat extends between the opposed side members and fits in the alignednotches, and at least a pair of leg members, one at or near each opposedend of the elongated bar member. Each leg member passes through onenotch in one side member upon attaching a cross-rail assembly to themattress support. The leg members extend from the bar member in the samedirection substantially at a right angle to the bar member. Typically, athird leg member is centrally positioned between the leg members at ornear the ends of the bar member. The leg members at or near the ends ofthe bar member provide rigidity and support for the side members throughwhich they extend.

Five, each side member may include a planar support along an upper edge.The notches are cut into the planar support and the side member and mayat least partially surround a leg member extending through the notch.Each notch is configured and dimensioned so an exterior surface of theelongated bar member is substantially flush with an exterior surface ofthe planar support member upon attaching the cross-rail assembly to therectangular support. This may be achieved by forming an aperture in theupper edge of the side member. For example, an inner edge of the upperplanar support member may terminate in an inwardly oriented foot elementthat is substantially at a right angle to the upper planar supportmember and substantially parallel to the side member. Each notchpartially extends into the foot element as well as through the upperplanar support member and its side member to form the aperture. Thisaperture has essentially the same overall configuration and dimensionsas the cross-section of the leg member extending therethrough. In oneembodiment, the bar member and leg members at or near the ends of thebar member each may have a substantially rectangular cross-sectionalconfiguration of substantially the same dimensions and the aperturesformed by the notches have a substantially rectangular cross-sectionalconfiguration of substantially the same dimensions as the leg members ator near the ends of the bar member.

Six, each side member may have a lower planar support member opposed tothe upper planar support member. The planar support members extendinwardly substantially at a right angle to the side member from whichthe planar support members extend. Each lower planar support member mayhave an opening therein aligned with the notch in the upper planarsupport member. The leg members have a predetermined length so that,upon attaching the cross-rail assembly to the rectangular support, eachleg member terminates next to the opening aligned with the notch throughwhich the leg member extends. Each leg member may terminate at a lowerend in a slider element that is next to an exterior surface of the lowerplanar support member.

These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this listintended to be exhaustive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

One embodiment of my bed base is discussed in detail in connection withthe accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. Thisdrawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numeralsindicating like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my bed base.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of my bed base shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the embodiment of mybed base shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the rectangular support of mybed base shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary exploded perspective view of onecorner of my bed base shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing miteredends of connected side members.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing thebackside of a top plate member of a corner connector.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary exploded perspective view taken alongline 6 of FIG. 3 of one embodiment of my cross-rail assembly of my bedbase shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of a top planar portion ofa side member.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of anotherembodiment of my cross-rail assembly with its leg member extendingthrough a stiffener leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, my bed base 10 includes three majorstructures: a rectangular support assembly 16, a corner connectorassembly 12, and a cross-rail assembly 14, each of which is interactivewith side members 16 a through 16 d to form my bed base for a box-springmattress 18 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. One pair of substantiallyparallel side members 16 a and 16 c are separated by a predetermineddistance d1 and another pair of substantially parallel side members 16 band 16 d are separated by a predetermined distance d2. Adjacent sidemembers 16 a and 16 b, 16 b and 16 c, 16 c and 16 d, and 16 d and 16 aare connected by a corner connector assembly 12, providing individualcorner connectors 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d in the respectivecorners 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, and 70 d of the rectangular support assembly16. Three cross-rail assemblies 14 connect the opposed side members 16 band 16 d. In general, the individual components of my bed base 10 aremainly made from metal tubes and sheet metal and formed usingconventional stamping, welding, and bending techniques. The illustratedbed base 10 is sized to support a standard box-spring mattress 18.

In FIG. 1 the one embodiment of my bed base 10 is shown fully assembled.Kits of the disassembled components may be sold for different sizes, forexample, twin, standard, queen, king and even custom size. The purchaserwould assembly the components in the kits to make my bed base.

Rectangular Support Assembly

The rectangular support assembly 16 includes the four generallyrectangular side members 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, and 16 d that are firstassembled. The individual side members 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, 16 d, arepreferably made from roll formed sheet steel having a thickness of fromabout 16 to about 20 gauge. The sheet steel is bent into the desiredconfiguration using conventional manufacturing equipment. The opposedside members 16 b and 16 d are of the same length of about 71 inches andthey typically do not vary no matter what the size of the box-spring andmattress being supported. Depending on the size of the box-spring andmattress being supported, the opposed side members 16 a and 16 c have alength ranging from about 26 to about 63 inches. For any type ofbox-spring and mattress being supported, the opposed side members 16 aand 16 c are of the same length. For example, when a twin sizebox-spring and mattress is being supported, the length is 26 inches,when a full size box-spring and mattress is being supported, the lengthis 40 inches, when a king size box-spring and mattress is beingsupported, the length is 58 inches. All the side members 16 a, 16 b, 16c, and 16 d, are of the same width×ranging from about 5 to about 18inches.

As best shown on FIGS. 5 and 6, each individual side member 16 a, 16 b,16 c, and 16 d has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configurationcomprising a central, longitudinally extending, planar portion C withopposed edges E1 and E2. The opposed ends E3 and E4 of each individualside member 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, and 16 d are mitered, that is, cut inwardat an angle of substantially 45-degrees to enable the formation of amiter joint J at each corner 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, and 70 d of the adjoiningadjacent ends E3 and E4 of the adjacent side members 16 a and 16 b, 16 band 16 c, 16 c and 16 d, 16 d and 16 a. To provide greater rigidity theopposed edges E3 and E4 each include an inwardly folded rectangularportion 80 formed from the planar portion C.

There extends outward in the same direction, respectively from each edgeE1 and E2, 22 an L-shaped shoulder support/stiffener 50 and 50 a. Thesupport stiffeners 50 and 50 a face each other, with their feet 23 a and23 b pointing at each other and their legs 25 a and 25 b orientedhorizontally to form longitudinal, planar support members 22 and 22 a.Each leg 25 a or 25 b is at a right angle to the planar portion C. Theindividual feet 23 a and 23 b extend from an outer tip OT of the leg 25a or 25 b. Each longitudinal support member 22 and 22 a, or leg 25 a and25 b has substantially the same width W, typically from about ¾ to about1¼ inches. The length of each individual leg 25 a and 25 b is usuallythe same as the length of the side member 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, or 16 d fromwhich it extends.

In the individual side members 16 b and 16 d there are three cut outnotches N, located on the upper planar support member 22 of the L-shapedshoulder support/stiffener 50, spaced apart a distance which variesdepending on the size of the box-spring and mattress being supported.Each individual pair of notches N is set back from the closest end E3 orE4, as the case may be, by an equal distance, typically from about 6 to12 inches. As shown in FIGS. 6, 6A and 8, the notches N are open alongthe upper planar support member 22 and form a guide-way and surroundingsupport structure for an individual leg member 320 passing through anaperture A in the upper planar support members 22. Each notch Npartially extends into the foot 23 a as well as partially through theplanar portion C of a side member to form the aperture A. This apertureA has essentially the same overall configuration and dimensions as thecross-section of the leg member extending therethrough. For example, asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the rectangular leg member 320 has oneside with a width W2′ (FIG. 6) equal to the width W2 of the aperture Aand another side with a width W1′ (FIG. 6) equal to the width W1 of theaperture A. When the leg member 320 is rectangular, the notches N eachcomprise a pair of substantially U-shaped cut-a-way sections U1 and U2of the same configuration and dimensions, one cut-a-way section U1 inthe foot 23 a and the other cut-a-way section U2 in the planar portion Cof a side member. The spaced apart open mouths M of the cut-a-waysections U1 and U2 form the aperture A.

As depicted in FIG. 6, there are three cut out openings O, located onthe lower planar support member 22 a of the L-shaped shouldersupport/stiffener 50 a, spaced apart a distance which varies dependingon the size of the box-spring and mattress being supported. In each sidemember 16 b and 16 d, the individual notches N and openings O are invertical alignment with each other. Upon assembly of my bed base 10, thenotches N in the side member 16 b are aligned with and in registrationwith the notches N in the side member 16 d.

Near the ends E3 and E4 of the individual side members 16 a, 16 b, 16 c,and 16 d there are cut out holes CH1, CH2, CH3, and CH4. The cut outholes CH1 and CH2 are punched through the upper planar support member 22while the cut out holes CH3 and CH4 are punched through the lower planarsupport member 22 a. Each cut out hole CH1 and CH2 is interactive withcylindrical post locator elements (not shown) of an upper plate member202 of a corner connector assembly 12 and each cut out hole CH3 and CH4is interactive with cylindrical post locator elements 250 c and 250 d ofthe lower plate member 204. As discussed below, aligned holes H areformed in each corner 70 a through 70 d at the joint J, allowing anelongated post 206 to pass from plate 202 to 204, securing these platestogether.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, in the adjacent side members 16 a and16 b is a cut-a-way h1 in each of the legs 25 a and 25 b of the sidemember 16 a and a cut-a-way h2 in each of the legs 25 a and 25 b of theside member 16 b. The cut-a-ways h1 and h2 are each ½ of a complete holeH that is created by connecting the mitered adjacent ends E3 and E4 ofthe side members 16 a and 16 b so they abut each other as depicted inFIG. 5A. For example, the hole H may be circular and the cut-a-ways h1and h2 may be semicircular. Because the side members 16 a, 16 b, 16 c,16 d are so designed as discussed above, the opposed pairs of sidemembers 16 a and 16 c, and 16 b and 16 d, are mirror images.

Corner Connector Assembly

Identical corner connector assemblies 12 are used so my bed base 10 hasrespectively at each of its corners 70 a through 70 d identical cornerconnectors 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 8200 d. For example, as shown inFIGS. 5, 6, and 7 the corner connector 200 a securely connects theadjoining, adjacent ends E3 and E4 of the side members 16 a and 16 b atthe corner 70 a. The four side members 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, and 16 d do nothave any other connection device other than the identical cornerconnectors 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d at their respective adjacentends E3 and E4, which form and hold the corners 70 a through 70 d firmlytogether.

The corner connector 200 a shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 is illustrative ofall the corner connectors 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d. Theillustrative corner connector 200 a includes (a) a top plate member 202,(b) a bottom plate member 204 with an internally threaded tubularreceptacle 224 (FIG. 7) connected via an annular flange 226 to theunderside of the bottom plate 204, and (c) an elongated post 206 tosecurely join the top plate and bottom plate. The top plate 202 and thebottom plate 204 have substantially identical configurations anddimensions, for example, each includes a pair of arms 202 a, 202 b and204 a, 204 b that are at a right angle to each other. The top plate 202and the bottom plate 204 each have therein a right angle channel 209 andeach include an outer right angle wall 210 and an inner right angle wall220. The outer right angle wall 210 is opposed to and in registrationwith the inner right angle wall 220.

As best shown in FIG. 5B, the outer right angle wall 210 is divided intotwo sections 210 a and 210 b with adjacent ends 210 c and 210 d touchingor almost touching. Upon assembly, the section 210 a extends along anexterior surface of the planar portion C of the side member 16 a, andthe section 210 b extends along an exterior surface of the planarportion C of the side member 16 b. As best shown in FIG. 5, the topplate 202 has an inner right angle wall 220 that is divided into twosections 220 a and 220 b with a gap G between adjacent ends 220 c and220 d. The section 220 a extends along the foot 23 a of the L-shapedsupport stiffener 50 of the side member 16 a. The section 220 b extendsalong the foot 23 b of the L-shaped support stiffener 50 of the sidemember 16 b. As best shown in FIG. 5, the bottom plate 204 has an innerright angle wall 220 that is divided into two sections 220 a and 220 bwith a gap between adjacent ends 220 c and 220 d. The section 220 aextends along the foot 23 a of the L-shaped support stiffener 50 a ofthe side member 16 a. The section 220 b extends along the foot 23 a ofthe L-shaped support stiffener 50 a of the side member 16 b. The innerright angle wall 220, and the outer right angle wall 210 form the rightangle channels 209 respectively in the top plate 202 and bottom plate204 of the corner connector assembly 12. The channels 209 have widths W1about equal to the width W of the L-shaped support stiffeners 50 and 50a.

The top plate 202 and bottom plate 204 each have therein holes 203 a and203 b that are vertically aligned when the plates 202 and 204 aremounted at the ends E3 and E4 of the side members 16 a and 16 b and formthe corner 70 a as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. The plates 202 and 204each include a pair of holes 213 a and 213 b, one hole in each arm ofthe plates. These holes 213 a, and 213 b are stamped through the plates202 and 204. As shown in FIG. 5, this process produces cylindrical postlocator projections 250 c and 250 d extending from the underside of theplates 202 and 204.

The right angle, adjoining adjacent ends E3 and E4 of the side members16 a and 16 b are connected by the corner connector 200 a with the topplate 202 and the bottom plate 204 positioned so their right anglechannels 209 overlap these ends as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thecylindrical post locator projections 250 c and 250 d respectively engageand interlock with the cut out holes CH1 and CH2 in the upper planarsupport member 22 of the side members 16 a and 16 b, and with the cutout holes CH3 and CH4 in the lower planar support member 22 a of theside members 16 a and 16 b. The elongated post 206 couples together thetop plate 202 and the bottom plate 204. The elongated post 206 extendsbetween the plates, 202 and 204, and is positioned through a hole H thatis created by adjoining the mitered adjacent ends E3 and E4 of thecorner 70 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the elongated post 206 has an enlarged headend 206 a of greater diameter than the hole 203 a and a threaded lowerend 206 b. Upon assembly, the post 206 passes through the hole 203 a andthe enlarged head end 206 a bears against an exterior surface of the topplate 202. As depicted in FIG. 7, the threaded lower end 206 b isscrewed into an internally threaded tubular receptacle 224, that hasbeen forced fitted into the hole 203 b in the bottom plate 204. Thereceptacle 224, located on the underside of the bottom plate 204, has anannular flange 226 (FIG. 5) projecting outward from a side of thereceptacle The flange 226 assists in securing the tubular receptacle 224to the bottom plate 204. The length of the post 206 is sufficient sothat its threaded lower end 206 b extends into the cylindrical tubularreceptacle 224.

During assembly of the bed base 10, the plates 202 and 204 arerespectively mounted on the upper edge UE and lower edge LE of theadjacent side members 16 a and 16 b, 16 b and 16 c, 16 c and 16 d, 16 dand 16 a, thus forming the individual corners 70 a through 70 d of therectangular support structure 16. The right angle channels 209 of thetop plate 202 and bottom plate 204 respectively receive therein theupper edge UE and lower edge LE, including the leg support members 25 aand 25 b of the planar support member 22 and the foot support member 23b of the planar support member 22 a. The top plate 202 overlaps theupper edge UE of the adjacent side member's 16 a and 16 b and the bottomplate 204 overlaps the lower edge LE of the adjacent side members 16 aand 16 b. As the threaded end 206 b of the post 206 is screwed into thecylindrical tubular receptacle 224, the top plate 202 and bottom plate204 are connected together and drawn towards each other so these plateseach bear snugly against the edges UE and LE including the upper planarsupport member 22 and lower planar support member 22 a of the adjacentside members 16 a and 16 b, thus forming the individual corner connector200 a of the corner 70 a. The planar support members 22 and 22 a, havingwidths equal to the width of the channels 209, fit snug within thechannels 209.

Cross-Rail and Side Member Assembly

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, each cross-rail assembly 14 comprises anelongated bar member 310 and three leg members, opposed outer legmembers 320 and an optional third leg member 320 a centeredapproximately in the middle of the elongated bar member 310. The barmember 310 and leg members 320 and 320 a may each have substantiallyrectangular cross-sectional configuration of the same dimensions. Eachindividual leg member of the pair of leg members 320 is located near theelongated bar member's 310 opposed ends E10 and E11. The leg members 320and 320 a all project in the same direction at a right angle to theelongated bar member 310. The leg members 320 and 320 a are ofsubstantially the same length and each leg terminates at an open lowerend 325. The elongated bar member 310 terminates at opposed ends E10 andE11 in a stop element 340. The stop element 340 is shaped in the form ofan L-shaped arm 350. The stop element 340 is separated by a distancegreater than the predetermined distance between the opposed side members16 b and 16 d to accommodate the box-spring mattress 18. The L-shapedarm 350 of the stop element 340 prevents the box-spring mattress 18 fromsliding off the bed base 10.

FIGS. 6 and 6A best illustrate the configuration and dimensionalrelationship between a notch N and an individual leg member 320 receivedwithin the notch. For example, an individual notch N in the side members16 b and 16 d is sized and configured to receive both the elongated barmember 310 and an individual leg member 320. For example, with theelongated bar members 310 and the individual leg members 320substantially rectangular and of substantially the same dimensions, thedepth, breath, and shape of each notch N enables the elongated barmember 310 to fit snug within the notch N and horizontally oriented withan individual leg member 320 projecting through an upper planar supportmember 22 and extending downward to the opening O in the lower planarsupport member 22 a. This arrangement of components and theirconfiguration and dimensions, creates an exposed exterior surface ES ofthe elongated bar member 310 that is substantially flush with anexterior surface ES1 of the upper planar support member 22 located onthe side members 16 b and 16 d, resulting in a flush surface FS (FIG. 1)supporting the box-spring mattress 18. This allows the box springmattress 18 to lay flat on top of the planar support members 22 of therectangular support structure 16.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, when the cross-rail assembly 14 isplaced at a right angle to the side members 16 b and 16 d, individualleg members 320 in each cross-rail assembly 14 pass through anindividual notch N in the planar support member 22 and fit snuglyagainst the interior surfaces of SS4 of the side members 16 b and 16 d.The leg members 320, which are within the support assembly 16, areseparated by a distance d2 that is substantially equal to thepredetermined distance between internal surfaces of the opposed sidemembers 16 b and 16 d. Because of their length, rigidity, and positionimmediately adjacent the interior surface SS4 of the side members 16 band 16 d, the leg members 320 provide support for the side members 16 band 16 d so that, even through these side members are of thin sheetmetal, they do not buckle. With the individual openings O aligned withindividual notches N, the lower ends 325 of the leg members 320 are thennext to an interior surface SS5 of the lower planar support member 22 a.As shown in FIG. 8, a slider element 330 passing through an opening O isscrewed into a threaded internal element 321 in the open lower ends 325of the leg members 320. My bed base 10 rests on an external surface 330a of the slider element 330 upon assembly and is oriented substantiallyhorizontally.

As shown in FIG. 9, an alternate embodiment of my cross rail assembly 14a has a leg member 320 b with a terminal end E8 that extends a veryslight distance through a rectangular opening O′ in the lower planarsupport member or stiffener leg 25 b. The dimensions of the rectangularopening O′ are slightly greater than the rectangular perimeter of theleg member 320 b. A slider element 330 is connected to the terminal endE8.

My corner connector assembly and combination of the cross-rail assemblyand opposed side members are illustrated in the same embodiment, namely,my bed base 10. My corner connector assembly and cross-railassembly-side members combination may, however, be used independently ofeach other.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The above presents a description of the best mode I contemplate ofcarrying out my bed base, and of the manner and process of making andusing it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable anyperson skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use my bedbase. My bed base is, however, susceptible to modifications andalternate constructions from the illustrative embodiment discussed abovewhich are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention tolimit my bed base to the particular embodiment disclosed. On thecontrary, my intention is to cover all modifications and alternateconstructions coming within the spirit and scope of my bed base asgenerally expressed by the following claims, which particularly pointout and distinctly claim the subject matter of my invention:

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A bed base comprising a rectangular support havingside members where corners are formed by adjacent side members and apair of said side members are opposed and separated by a predetermineddistance, a pair of cross-rails, each cross-rail including (a) anelongated bar member that has opposed ends and (b) a pair of legmembers, one leg member at or near each opposed end of said elongatedbar member, said leg members being separated by a distance substantiallyequal to said predetermined distance between the opposed side members,each side member having opposed upper and lower edges with an upperplanar support member along said upper edge and a lower planar supportmember along said lower edge, each said upper and lower planar supportmember extending inwardly substantially at a right angle to the sidemember from which said planar support member extends, a rectangularnotch in each opposed side member, each notch extending through saidupper planar support member and into the side member from which saidupper planar support member extends, said bar member and leg memberseach having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configurationand each said notch being sized and configured to receive the bar memberso the bar member fits snug within the notch with an exposed upperexterior substantially planar surface of the elongated bar member beingsubstantially flush with an exposed upper exterior substantially planarof the upper planar support member, each said lower planar supportmember having therein an opening, each said opening aligned with onenotch in the upper planar support member, and said side members beingaligned so the notch in one side member is in registration with thenotch in the opposed side member and each cross-rail is seated inopposed, aligned notches with the elongated bar member of eachcross-rail extending between the opposed side members and each said legmember of a cross-rail projecting through an upper planar support of oneside member and terminating at a lower end in a slider element that isnext to an exterior surface of the lower planar support member, and acorner connector assembly connecting said adjacent side members, saidcorner connector assembly including a pair of plate members, each saidplate member including a pair of arms at a right angle, each arm havingouter wall elements along outer edges of the arm that are substantiallyat a right angle to each other and to the arm and inner wall elementsalong inner edges of the arm that are substantially at a right angle toeach other and to the arm, said inner and outer wall elements forming aright angle channel in the corner connector, and a locator element ineach arm of the plate member that engages and interlocks with a locatorelement in each end of the adjacent side members, and an elongated postmember extending between the plate members and attaching said platemembers.
 19. A bed base comprising a rectangular support having cornersformed by adjacent side members, at least one pair of said side membersbeing opposed and separated by a predetermined distance, a cross-railincluding (a) an elongated bar member that has opposed ends and (b) apair of leg members, one leg member at or near each opposed end of saidelongated bar member, said leg members being separated by a distancesubstantially equal to said predetermined distance between the opposedside members, each side member having opposed upper and lower edges withan upper planar support member along said upper edge and a lower planarsupport member along said lower edge, each said upper and lower planarsupport member extending inwardly substantially at a right angle to theside member from which said planar support member extends, a notch ineach opposed side member, each notch extending through said upper planarsupport member and into the side member from which said upper planarsupport member extends, said adjacent side members each having a miteredend in the upper and lower planar support members and in each miteredend a cut-a-way section, said cut-a-way sections each comprising aportion of a complete hole created by connecting the adjacent sidemembers so the mitered ends abut each other, each said bar member havinga predetermined configuration and each said notch being sized andconfigured to receive the bar member so the bar member fits snug withinthe notch, each said lower planar support member having therein anopenings, each said opening aligned with the notch in the upper planarsupport member, said opposed side members being aligned so the notch inone side member is in registration with the notch in the other sidemember and each cross-rail is seated in opposed, aligned notches withthe elongated bar member of the cross-rail extending between the opposedside members and each said leg member of the cross-rail projectingthrough an upper planar support of a side member and terminating at alower end in a slider element that is next to an exterior surface of alower planar support member, and a corner connector assembly at eachcorner, each connector assembly including a pair of aligned platemembers, each plate member including a pair of arms at a right angle toeach other and each arm having a channel therein and said channels beingat a right angle with respect to each other, said channels receivingindividual planar support members of the side members, a locator elementstamped in each arm of each plate member to form a locator projectionextending from an underside of the arm in which said locator projectionis formed, said locator projection engaging and interlocking with alocator hole in each end of the adjacent side members forming a cornerof the bed base, a connector hole in one plate member where the arms ofsaid one plate member meet to form the right angle of the channel, and athreaded receptacle in the other plate member where the arms of saidother plate member meet to form the right angle of the channel, saidconnector hole and receptacle being vertically aligned when the platemembers are mounted to the side members to form the corner of the bedbase, and a post member for attaching the plate members together, saidpost member having a threaded end that passes through the connector holein one aligned plate member and the complete holes along the miteredends and screws into the threaded receptacle in the other aligned platemember.
 20. A corner connector assembly including a pair of platemembers, each plate member including a pair of arms at a right angle toeach other and each arm having a channel therein and said channels beingat a right angle with respect to each other, a locator element stampedin each arm of each plate member to form a locator projection extendingfrom an underside of the arm in which said locator projection is formed,said locator projection being adapted to engage and interlock with alocator element in each end of a pair of adjacent side members of a bedbase forming a corner of the bed base, a hole in one plate member wherethe arms of said one plate member meet to form the right angle, and athreaded receptacle in the other plate member where the arms of saidother plate member meet to form the right angle, said hole andreceptacle being vertically aligned when the plate members are mountedto the adjacent side members to form a corner of a bed base, and a postmember for attaching the plate members together, said post member havinga threaded end that passes through the hole in the one plate member andscrews into the threaded receptacle in the other plate member.